McGinty - Carlisle is ready to shine

Warriors coach Billy McGinty has urged young fly half Joe Carlisle to go out and play when he faces up to South African star Butch James on Saturday at Sixways Stadium (kick-off 3pm).

Carlisle will start in the No.10 shirt for Warriors against Bath Rugby and will come up against a fearsome half back paring in James and Michael Claassens.

But McGinty has backed his young back to relish the occasion and show yet more of the ability he showed against Sale Sharks last time out.

"It's not very often that you get to play against a top class international player," said McGinty.

"What Joe has not got to be is subdued, sit back and not do anything. He's got to respect the challenge and look up and think I want to be the number 10 at Worcester and I want to show people what I can do.

"There are still some things he needs to work on, but there were some things that he did really well against Sale and he got the ball going for us.

"Unfortunately when we did go wide we just forced that last pass and it just didn't go to hand or it made a knock on."

McGinty is convinced Warriors are on the verge of producing some impressive performances and turning on a second half surge in the season.

"Over the last two or three weeks the boys seem to have really jelled in together," he said.

"We are optimistic of our chances of finishing the second half really well, just by the way the players are in training and they are totally committed to what we do in training.

"Bath have got a lot of very good players, they play a really good brand of rugby which is difficult to defend against and is nice to watch.

"But hopefully we can match them and beat them. They are a difficult team to play and that's why they are in the top half of the league."